R packages on OPSI PCs

Install R packages on OPSI PCs in your own account

Required: University computer and account Target: R environment in the university user account, regardless of the university computer currently in use

1. Ask R where it currently installs and searches for packages:

   .libPaths() # First entry by default on C:/something -> not in the H: drive and therefore not in the Acount but locally on the computer.
   

2. Create your own R package folder on H: (creating once is sufficient):

   mypath <- "H:/R/win-library"
   dir.create(mypath, recursive = TRUE, showWarnings = TRUE)
   

3. Set up R permanently in such a way that packages are installed and loaded there by making an entry in the .Rprofile file Create (or edit) a file with the name .Rprofile in the home directory (H:/Documents/.Rprofile) with the following content:

   .libPaths("H:/R/win-library")
   

   If you already have an .Rprofile, add this line without deleting any other content. If you do not write this line in .Rprofile and/or the .Rprofile file is in the “wrong” place, the setting will be lost every time R is restarted.

4. check: Should now show H:/R/win-library in the first position, even after restarts and also on other computers.

   .libPaths()
   

Install packages in general

Classic via CRAN

?install.packages()

Latest development versions (often unstable) via GitHub

?devtools::install_github()

Previous versions

?remotes::install_version()

RTools installation

Why? Necessary if packages do not have to be installed via CRAN, e.g. via devtools::install_github()

Download the appropriate RTools version from https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/Rtools/ Appropriate means matching the R version. The R version appears at the top of the console when you open Rstudio, e.g. 4.4.3 (-> then select Rtools 4.4)

Installation in the folder suggested by Rtools (C:/) is possible, but is then only available on the local computer. Then it has to be executed once on each university computer